Not too many surprises at the top here, though there is a case to be made for the Billikens as a repeat candidate. Surely, there will be fans who felt UMass was snubbed with their fourth-place projection, but I'm okay with it.

Fortunately for the Minutemen, they get all four of the other top-five teams at home this season — Saint Joseph's on Feb. 1, La Salle on Feb. 5, VCU on Feb. 21 and Saint Louis on March 9.

In terms of individual accolades, UMass senior Chaz Williams came away as one of the conference's most decorated players, as the 5-foot-8 point guard was named to both the all-A-10 and all-defense first teams.